A few years ago, a sixth grader from Newport Coast Elementary School came to our city council meeting to speak during public comment.
In my six years on city council, I can remember a handful of public comments vividly. Some because they’re hateful (referencing my kids, for example), some because they’re emotional, and some because of their simple impacts. This little girl’s public comments still stick with me.
As part of her sixth grade school project, she had been tasked with making the community a better place. Her sister, it turned out, had some pretty severe disabilities that did not allow her to stay in a swing. But her sister loved to swing.
It also turned out that there are swings designed specifically for boys and girls just like this girl’s sister. Known as an ADA Swing, these swings have molded seats with a pull-down plastic piece that goes over the shoulders (much like a roller coaster).
Newport Beach did not have any swings like this in our city. But surrounding cities did. So this little girl came to us during public comment and identified the problem, explained the real world application, and offered the solution. (Which is truly the formula for a great public comment.)
Not long after, she met with our Recreation & Senior Services Department Director. And shortly after that, we had our first ADA swing installed in Coastal Peak Park (up in Newport Coast).
As a postscript to that story, I attended a fundraiser for Special Olympics not long after our city staff installed the swing. A mom was talking to me about how tough it is to find accessible parks, so I mentioned the ADA swing. She cried in response. She just wanted her kids to be seen and enjoy being kids with dignity.
With votes cast and still being counted and the ugliness of campaigns – and boy, was there some ugliness – behind us for now, let’s take stock and refocus. Because if a sixth grader can see a need, research a solution, and present it to folks who can do something about it, then so can each of us.
We just need to keep our eyes open to the possibilities of making our community a better place.
Will O’Neill is a member of the Newport Beach City Council, representing District 7.
